Two Paddocks new release showcase - October 2025 tasting

WOW WOW WOW

I am humbled and honoured to be sent the 2025 Two Paddocks release wines, thank you. Two Paddocks wines already garner so much mana and respect around the world it is excellent to be able to keep up to date with wines from this stellar producer. Sam [Neill] took a giant leap of faith all those years ago to establish a vineyard, brand and wine story that has evolved into something very special, and brings joy to those who discover the Two Paddocks brand. Dean [Shaw’s] winemaking skill set is outstanding as shown in the wines tasted below. The [human] vineyard team - a big hat tip - thank you. The non-human vineyard team, you know who you are - keep up the good work.

And to Jacqui [Murphy] - one amazing human, totally the glue in the Two Paddocks business, thank you for sending the wines.

Two Paddocks - Organic Wines

Picnic Riesling 2024: An excellent bouquet of limes and green mandarin, lime-flower and jasmine. Aromatic, bright, youthful and enticing. Taut with a youthful palate squeeze as the wine touches the palate, just dry with a whisper of residual sweetness leads to flavours of apple and makrut limes enhanced by a backbone of acidity carrying flavours of fruit and mineral greywacke dust texture. Well made with a lengthy finish. Best drinking from day of purchase through 2031+. 93 Points, Excellent

Two Paddocks Dry Riesling 2024: Bright, youthful and intriguing bouquet of jasmine and white flowers, white peach and lime then a mineral smoke of stone and sand. On the palate - delicious, dry, salivating and taut with a tension from citrus fruits and an acid line that delivers a palate squeeze releasing flavours of apple and pineapple, white apricot and peach. Still young with persistent flavours and vibrant textures. Best drinking from late 2026 through 2032. 94 Points, Excellent

Picnic Pinot Noir 2024: An enticing bouquet of fresh red berry fruits led by dark cherry and boysenberry then seams of savoury dried herb and wild red flowers. On the a palate - a wine of freshness and youthful, fine textures from tannins and vigor from the acid line. Flavours of red berries and some plum mirror the bouquet with an overall brightness and youthful poise. Ready to drink from day of purchase through 2029. 92 Points, Premium

Two Paddocks Pinot Noir 2024: From four vineyard sites this wine is the flagship and delivers. Aromas of equal parts dark berries and skin, savoury wild spices and oak. Dry, taut, focused and fleshy, an abundance of texture from tannins and acidity framing core fruit flavours of dark plum and boysenberry, raspberry and blackcurrant moments. Violet and wild rose. 94 Points, Excellent

Two Paddocks Paddocks Proprietor’s Reserve ‘The First Paddock’ Pinot Noir 2022, Gibbston Vineyard: Fabulous bouquet with a very bright, lively and fruit centric bouquet. Layers of red berries and stone, some savoury ideas then wild red flowers, clay then lees and barrel spice with a gentle smoky quality. Youthful and complex. Dry, taut, textured and delicious with core red berry flavours, ripe dark cherry , clove and vanilla, some nutmeg and toasty wood flavours. Tannins deliver a definitive power, lots of polish and impact while the acid line carries flavours and freshness. A delicious wine, best on its own. Drink well from today though best from 2028 through 2036+. 96 Points, Outstanding

Two Paddocks Proprietor’s Reserve ‘The Last Chance’ Pinot Noir 2022, Earnscleugh Vineyard: A bouquet that speaks of site first with a powdered clay and stone layer, then core fruit scents of plums and boysenberry, cherry flesh and dried herb, bracken then barrel spice. A focused wine on the palate, taut and youthful still, an abundance of tannins with textures of needles and fine nails. French oak and wood spice add complexity and power while the acidity picks up all the flavours and distributes them evenly through the palate. A wine with elegance and some muscle with a lengthy finish. Best drinking from 2027 through 2036. 95 Points, Outstanding

Two Paddocks Paddocks Proprietor’s Reserve ‘The Fusilier’ Pinot Noir 2022, Bannockburn Vineyard: There’s no mistaking the sense of site with this wine, the voice of place is clear [for me] with scents of floral perfumes and soft earth clay, a fine dried herb seam with layers of vanilla spice and sweet French oak. Taut and new still with tension from fine tannins and acid line, this holds the palate to allow the flavours of red berries, plum and wild black currant berries to add their voice and softness. Dry, plenty of fine textures and complexity. Lengthy and well made with best drinking from 2028 through 2038. 96 Points, Outstanding

Two Paddocks Proprietor’s Reserve ‘The Major General’ Pinot Noir 2022: A bouquet of equal complexity and charm, aromas that remind me firstly of the floral sweetness of soils in Bannockburn and fruit purity of Gibbston. A bouquet of allure. On the palate a dry wine with flavours of dark cherry and some plum then blackcurrant and natural fruit spices. The texture and dried herb qualities remind me of the Alexandra hillsides and wild thyme. Tannins and acidity frame the core of fruit, plenty of tautness and youthful energy still. Lengthy and well made with best drinking from 2027 through 2035+. 95 Points, Outstanding

Two Paddocks ‘Au Naturel’ Pinot Noir 2024: From the Bannockburn vineyard a very bright purple core with pink rim leads to a bouquet of wild red flowers and fruits, forest berries and damson plums, boysenberry and manuka. Very youthful and vibrant scents. On the palate a very bright fleshy core of dark red skinned fruits all reflecting the bouquet framed by a youthful energy from tannins and acidity, a taut mouthfeel and salivating finish. Well made, youthful and needing some settling time with best drinking from late 2026 through 2029+. 93 Points Excellent.